Sermons by Vicar Brenda

Thursday, May 28, 2009

My third grade students have recently discovered the "gopher face" - they wipe their front teeth dry, and stick their upper lip onto their teeth. They think this is hysterical, and continually crack each other up. Well, yesterday, after repeated gophers kept popping up during my music lesson, I asked the kiddos in the back row to separate from each other and quit the facial gophering. Yeah, that worked. I had only spread the gopheritis throughout my room, and the two kiddos ended up in my not-so-happy graces.

Today, I received this note of apology from one of the gophers himself. Who gets an apology note from a kid making gopher faces!? Too funny! No other adult knew about this, so I love the fact that he took responsibility for exactly what he was doing. What a great kid!

I'm currently collecting $2 from each choir student to help defray the cost of supplies for our pre-concert party. I would have to say that this Money Man wins the prize for the most creative submission!

Note to self: when instructing students on how NOTto break the classroom woodblock, it's importantto not actually break the woodblock yourself. Dang.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I have been writing parts of this blog entry all day. Today marks four years since my total hysterectomy. That's saying a lot, considering I just turned 30. I try so hard not to dislike today, yet my emotions always seem to sneak in and get the best of me. I can't believe it's still this raw after four years. While there is certainly growth and acceptance, there will always be mourning.

I guess it's hard not to repeatedly feel the loss of not being able to bear my own children, especially with constant reminders all around me. Every other person I know is pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or recently pregnant. Who am I not to be completely happy for them? The sheer number of babies all around me is astounding - they really are little miracles, each and every one of them.

I have to remember that I am PAIN FREE. Just writing that makes me smile. Endometriosis is an evil disease, and I made a medical choice that has improved my life a hundredfold. Who knew 2 mg of estrogen would become so important to my daily existence!? I'm able to teach. I'm able to travel. I'm able to sing without pain. I'm able to LIVE my life. I literally thank God every day for my second chance!

I really do try to remember that, although I may not be able to carry children, I can still be a mother. That's an important distinction, and ultimately, what gets me through May 27th each and every year.

You can tell the end of the school year is near. We're nearing the completion of all our scheduled lessons, and there is more time for spontaneous activities...such as whacking the BoomWhackers in mid-air while wearing hard-hats. I have the best job!

Ok, so that's NOT the name of my colleague Nicole's soon-to-be-born baby girl. That would be unusually cruel. Although, we could call her Elda... Elda it is. Here are a few pics of the happy baby shower this past week!

Here's Nicola (pregnant with Baby Bob) and the INCREDIBLE spread of food. If only we could always eat this well at school. Mmmm, meatballs....

Food for everyone! Ann and I worked another windy, Watermelon shift under the shelter for our annual Field Day at Flagstone. I love slicing and dicing with the big knives! This year, Asher stopped by. He's the 3 month old sibling of one of my 2nd grade students. Sweet pea! His dad wanted to catch a few action shots of his big brother, and I was MORE than happy to hold/feed the little guy for a while!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

I love love LOVE 4 year olds! While off track, I visited theRoe Family(Kelly and Marcia, Cori, Joey, and Baby PK) over in Westminster, and we visited the Butterfly Pavilion, aka the "Butter-Fried Chameleon" - HA! The twins absolutely loved the bugs. Me? Not so much! Catching up with Marcia and the little people was worth it, though, creepy crawly bugs and all!

Just holding up Cori to see the bugs. Marcia might beright, however, when she said I was using Cori as a shield...

Eew. Eew. Eew. Cori holding Rosie the Tarantula. Eew.

How sad is it when a 4 year old isbraver than a 30 year old! Such a brave Joey!

Brenda Lynn

I'm 39 years into what I would consider a delightful life. I'm active in my church and faith community, enjoyed a career that kept me young, and am surrounded by loving friends and family. God is good! My life is amusing, full of drama and laughter - I am thankful and blessed!